WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-List of Alternate Routes and Options for Crown Point Bridge

List of Alternate Routes and Options for Crown Point Bridge

Middlebury, Vermont - October 29, 2009 - Commuters and residents traveling between Addison County and New York now have several options for getting to and from their workplace or residence. All public transportation services are now free, minimizing the financial impact for many workers and employers. However, long travel times still exist for many. Below is a summary of the services currently in operation. More details and links to schedules are available at the website the Addison County Chamber of Commerce is maintaining: www.crownpointbridgeupdates.com

FERRY SERVICES

Fort Ticonderoga Ferry: Connecting Shoreham, VT and Ticonderoga, NY

• Free service as of 10/27/09
• Extended hours from 6 am to 8 pm

Lake Champlain Ferry:  Connecting Charlotte, VT and Essex, NY

• Free service as of 10/27/09
• Departures every 30 minutes
• Essex County (NY) Transportation is providing free bus transportation to/from Crown Point, Fort Henry, Westport and the Essex Ferry dock
• CCTA (Chittenden County Transportation Authority) is providing bus transportation to/from Charlotte dock to Shelburne and Fletcher Allen Healthcare in Burlington
• Commuters needing to travel south of Charlotte should contact ACTR (Addison County Transit Resources)

Basin Harbor Ferry: Connecting Basin Harbor, Vergennes, VT and Westport, NY

• Free services as of 10/29/09
• Pedestrian ferry only
• Three AM and three PM crossings
• Essex County (NY) Transportation is providing free bus transportation to/from Essex Fairgrounds and Westport Marina
• ACTR is providing free bus transportation from Basin Harbor to businesses in Vergennes-Country Home Products, Northlands Job Corps and Goodrich

BUS SERVICES

Adirondack Trailway's Express Bus Service: Connecting Port Henry, Ticonderoga to Middlebury and Vergennes (via Whitehall)

• Free
• Approximate 2 hour trip
• Makes stops at Middlebury College, Porter Medical, Goodrich

ACTR:

ACTR is offering a Guaranteed Ride Home in the event of a personal emergency during business hours for commuters without cars (i.e., who came via foot ferry, bus or carpool). ACTR will arrange for a volunteer driver or taxi to take a commuter to where they need to go. Eligible Guaranteed Ride Home requests include, but are not limited to:

• Personal or family emergency
• Sudden illness
• Unexpected emergency overtime

CARPOOLING/RIDESHARING SERVICES

Vermont:

VTrans has a toll-free number and website to help commuters connect for carpooling purposes.

The phone numbers are 1-800-685-7433 (RIDE) or 1-802-828-6521.

The web site is: www.connectingcommuters.org.

At the moment, there is a person processing registrants looking to make carpool connections. Potential carpool matches are sent to registrants by email and/or regular mail (as preferred).  Within a week, an automated software system is expected to go live, which should help expand the capabilities of the system.

New York:

Essex County offers a Ride Share program which is available to residents of both New York and Vermont.

The web site is: https://www.co.essex.ny.us/EssexCountyRideShare/Signup.aspx